James was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2001 for the Slinky. She was one of the first women to have a nationally-known business.
Posted on 11/23/2008 3:46:37 AM PST by JoeProBono
Hollidaysburg, PA (AHN) - Betty James - the co-founder of the company that made the Slinky - and a single mother who broke the glass ceiling to become a successful executive in the 1950s has died. She was 90.
James co-founded what would become the Slinky empire in 1945 with her husband, the late Richard James.
But when her husband left to join a religious cult and follow it to Bolivia, she took over control and management of the company, James Industries Inc., along with raising the couple's six children alone.
(Excerpt) Read more at allheadlinenews.com ...
James was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2001 for the Slinky. She was one of the first women to have a nationally-known business.
I had a Slinky and a Slinky Dog when I was a kid. They were terrific toys.
Slinky’s are now made of plastic, just sayin.
I remember, back in my day...
Betty J, RIP, I did play wi......
God bless her. I always got a Slinky in my stocking as a kid and they were one of my favorite toys. I have a mini one that I now keep in my desk and play with it occasionally.
I wonder how that worked out for him.
“I wonder how that worked out for him.”
I was wondering the same thing!
Richard James died in 1974. I haven’t found any other details yet.
>>>>>>Slinky’s are now made of plastic, just sayin.<<<<<\
Nope. Available in original metal or Junior size metal or colored metal **or*** plastic.
http://www.poof-slinky.com/catalog/catalog.asp?org=3&action=catv&catid=33
I know this for a fact because I have read the letters that Richard James, my father, wrote to Betty James. He also tried to keep in touch with the children and wrote to his oldest son regularly. Apparently, Tom never received nor read those letters because his mother interceded and destroyed the letters before Tom could read them.
I write this information because I am really tired of reading about how my father "left" his wife and children to join a "cult." To me, that is defamation of character. That is Betty's side of the story but it is just her side of the story. My father never lived long enough to defend his own name.
Yes, I admit he was a bit on the eccentric side but he was a man of high moral character. He was a good man. And for your information, my father did not ask to divorce from Betty James. Betty James filed for divorce and he merely signed the papers after it was clear that she would not agree to join him in Bolivia. Just thought you might want to know the whole story. It would be nice if people really knew both sides. Thank you for your time. - Sarah James
(Comment on this link: http://www.madehow.com/Volume-3/Slinky-Toy.html)
And here's a different view, including the information that he died from a heart attack. Basically, it seems to be a he said/she said.
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2312/did-the-inventor-of-the-slinky-join-a-cult-in-bolivia
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